Lenovo error 1962: no operating system when installing ubuntu (single OS)

I inherited several Lenovo m91p machines that currently have Ubuntu installed: I can log into one, but the others are all locked and so I am trying to reinstall a fresh copy of ubuntu on each of the others. The machines are identical, so I know that ubuntu *can* be installed successfully.

Issue: I keep getting Error Code 1962: No operating system found whenI try to boot

Attempting: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64-bit install
Partition settings: I have tried several based on forum posts I have found, but the most "vanilla" is probably what I have included here in the pastebin. One single partition on the HDD: /dev/sda1

Attempted solutions:
1) wiped out the HDD partition and fresh installed Ubuntu
2) after fresh install, I tried booting from live USB (works) and ruing boot-repair (tried recommended repair settings)
3) tried tuing off "quick mode" in the BIOS boot settings
4) tried changing boot options in BIOS from [AUTO] to [EFI] to [LEGACY] ... still the same error

http://paste.ubuntu.com/20107757/

I really don't know what's going on here, but somewhere between the BIOS and GRUB, something is not working. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!